REFERENDUM WATCH
Monitoring the SPDC’s Referendum in Burma
Issue No. 1, April 21, 2008
Interim analysis of the pre-referendum period,
February 9 – April 21, 2008
I. Introduction and summary. 3
II. Findings. 4
A. Political and human rights context 4
B. Legal framework. 4
C. Referendum administration and complaints. 6
D. Media environment 8
E. Campaign. 8
F. Absentee voting and advance voting. 11
G. Referendum observers. 12
III. Conclusion and recommendations. 13
IV. Referendum timeline. 14
V. Appendix: News coverage of the referendum... 16
On May 10, 2008, a referendum for a new constitution will take place in Burma. The coming constitution is the outcome of a 14-year long process in the National Convention strictly controlled by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Burma has been without a state constitution since the military coup d’Etat that brought the SPDC to power in 1988.
The refendum is due to be followed by a general election in 2010, which will be the first election in the country for ten years. The outcome of the previous election, which took place in 1990, has never been honoured by the SPDC.
There have been no negotiations between the government and the opposition, notably the main election winning party from 1990, the National League for Democracy, regarding the conditions under which the referendum is to be conducted.
Burma is a country with severe political repression, which has been censured numerous times for pervasive, systematic and widespread violations of human rights. The period that has elapsed since the referendum was announced has seen no improvements in the overall political and human rights situation and very little efforts to ensure equal opportunity for both sides to campaign. The state apparatus is heavily tilted in favour of the “Yes” vote. As a result, there is good reason to question whether the referendum can offer a genuine choice under free and fair conditions for the people of Burma.
Among key pressing issues of concern are the use of temporary identity cards by the authorities without concomitant practical and effective measures in the referendum law and handbook to prevent multiple voting, the use of advance and absentee voting without concomitant measures to prevent vote rigging, as well as the manner in which the voting will be counted and the result announced publicly.
The United Nations, regional organisations such as the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as individual countries should:
- Call upon the SPDC to ensure free and fair conditions for campaigning as well as for the vote on Election Day, including with respect to the pressing concerns mentioned above;
- Call upon the SPDC to accept international observers for the referendum;
- Monitor closely violations of international standards for a free and fair referendum;
- Publicly criticise violations of international standards for a free and fair referendum.
There are severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms and civil and political rights in Burma. The country has an estimated 1,850 political prisoners, which is about 700 prisoners more than prior to the large popular protests led by Buddhist monks, which took place in August-September 2007. Among the detainees are most key political opposition figures, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo from the National League for Democracy, Khun Htun Oo from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and the leaders of the 88 Generation Students movement.
Burma’s border areas have been the location of armed conflict for decades. The war is particularly severe in eastern Burma, which has been in armed conflict for more than 50 years. Ongoing military operations are targeting civilians. The military presence remains strong in post-conflict areas where there is a ceasefire in place and human rights violations remain severe, systematic and widespread.
There has been no release of political prisoners, no resumption of a political dialogue between the government and the opposition, no declaration of ceasefire with withdrawal of troops from ethnic areas and no efforts to end impunity for human rights violations before the referendum. To the contrary, it has been reported that the increased presence of security forces in Shan State as a result of preparations for the referendum is leading to increased clashes between the Burma Army and armed opposition groups such as Shan State Army (South).
There has been no easing in conditions to ensure liberalisation with freedom of expression, association, assembly and movement before the referendum.
A lex specialis for the current referendum, The Referendum Law for the Approval of the Draft Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, 2008, was proclaimed by the SPDC on February 26, 2008. This law regulates the convening of the referendum, the formation and duties of the referendum administration bodies, the preparation of the voting rolls, the vote as well as the counting of the votes and the announcement of the results of the referendum.
Areas not covered by the referendum law are the financing of campaign expenses, the conduct of the campaign, its coverage by media and the rights of observer groups.
The law also contains no measures intended to ensure cross-party participation in the referendum process and to restrict the role of public bodies or the use of state resources in support of either side’s campaign.
The name of the law makes it clear that the purpose of the referendum is to ensure that the draft constitution is approved. The referendum law makes no mention of the referendum question.
The law ensures that only the number of eligible voters, actual voters and votes in favour of the draft constitution will be publicly announced and that only the Referendum Commission has the authority to release such figures. Other Sub-commissions at the level of the ward/village, district, and state/division are not authorized to release results from the referendum. The law also does not provide a time-frame for when the result should be announced.
Such limitations are likely to make it more difficult for outside observers to monitor local results at the level of the ward/village and township level and could pave the way for the Referendum Commission to distort the final result at the national level. In remaining weeks, the international community should therefore press upon the SPDC to give authority to those in charge of the poll stations and sub-commissions at various levels to publish the voting results as soon as the vote counting is finished and to provide a timeframe for the declaration of the results of the vote.
The law prohibits repeated voting, but the law, nor the handbook for referendum officials impose practical measures that will effectively prevent such voting, such as for instance the use of an ink stamp. This issue is particularly pertinent given the use by the SPDC of temporary identity cards (see below) for those who do not have other proof of citizenship in Burma. The use of such temporary identity cards increases the risk of repeated voting by their holders, in particular because the Referendum Law also allows for voters to be registered and to vote at their temporary place of residence.
The quorum for the result of the referendum is outlined in the same draft constitution that is up for a vote. The draft constitution stipulates that the vote in the referendum will be considered valid by a simple majority of actual voters, provided that half of all eligible voters participate (article 441 in the Burmese language version). This low quorum has not been discussed with other parties in the country and should have been stronger in a conflict/post-conflict society such as Burma in order to provide for broad confidence from a cross-section of Burmese society in the new constitution and the institutions of governance emanating from this constitution.
Finally, a number of existing laws remain in place, which restrict the space for free and fair campaigning. Most importantly, order 5/96 prohibits criticism of the National Convention and its outcome (the draft constitution), which can result in up to twenty years imprisonment. The 1962 Printers and Publishers Act prohibits the publication and distribution of print material without a licence and without an agreement from the censorship board.
The Referendum Law itself provides for a prison term of up to three years and/or a fine for anyone caught “lecturing, distributing papers, using posters or disturbing voting in any other manner at the polling booth or near the premises of the polling booth or at the public or private place to destroy the referendum”. (art. 25).
The referendum administration consists of a Referendum Commission created by the Referendum law as well as Referendum Sub-commission at the level of the state/division, district, township and ward/village. The Sub-commissions, which were established around March 20, 2008, are given authority to determine polling date, constituency boundaries, prepare voter register, prepare ballot papers and report the result of vote. State media in Burma have reported that numerous meetings between the Referendum Commission and its sub-commissions have taken place, but the meetings themselves are not open and transparent.
The law does allow the postponement or cancellation of the vote, but leaves it up to the referendum administration at various levels to interpret the law if circumstances apply.
The referendum law makes no provisions for a complaints procedure. Furthermore, the head of the Referendum Commission is Burma’s Chief Justice, Aung Toe – who was formerly also the head of the Constitution Drafting Commission – which raises the question of the independence of Burma’s judiciary system if it were to be used as a venue for complaints.
All citizens of Burma above the age of 18 years are entitled to vote in the referendum, except members of religious orders, persons of unsound mind, persons serving prison terms or having been convicted or sentenced by a court for an offence, and persons staying illegally abroad. Advance voting will be possible (see more below). The voting rolls are being drawn up by the Referendum Sub-commissions at the township or ward/village level and will be made public one week before the vote. This leaves very little time for members of the public to inspect the voter register and request changes or additions. No provisions have been made to ensure that both sides of the campaign have access to the voter register. Actually, according to reports, advance voting has already begun at Burmese embassies abroad, before the voter roll has been made public.
At the end of February 2008, the government began issuing Temporary Identity Cards as a preparation for the vote. These ID cards do not offer proof of citizenship despite the fact that the Referendum Law states that foreigners are not allowed to vote. According to residents of Namkham Township, Sino-Burma border, civilians are being forced by local immigration officers to make cash donations in order to receive these ID cards. Each villager in Wan Na village in Namkham Township had to pay at least Kyat 5,000 as a donation to officers on March 13-14, 2008. Similar incidents are reported in other areas of Shan State, such as Kengtung.
No information is available on measures taken to ensure the right to vote of Burma’s large population of internally displaced people.
According to sources, monks under detention are being forcibly issued with lay identity cards ahead of the referendum. However, this measure also potentially deprives them of their status as members of a religious order.
The SPDC released a referendum handbook for referendum officials on April 9, 2008. The handbook, which has not been made available to the public, provides guidelines and practical details on how voting will be conducted in the referendum.
Under the guidelines, seven officials will be assigned to polling stations designed for 1000 voters, with more officials sent to supervise larger stations. However, in Tachilek Township, Shan State, sources report that there will be one polling booth for every 3,000 voters. The officials will include a station supervisor, vote examiners, security officers and vote handlers. The handbook states that each polling booth should contain a pen attached with a chain to prevent it being stolen, and instructs ballot stations to keep spare blank votes for an additional ten percent of the number of expected voters in case they are needed.
The time of the vote will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to local sources in Shan State, each polling booth team of ten will be led by a village headman, with the rest divided into three sub-teams of three each, one to check ID cards and issue ballots, another to oversee the voters marking the ballots, and the last for security. After the polling booth is closed, local authorities will count the vote in front of the public without letting the public stay near them.
According to residents of Namkham Township, money has been collected from villagers to prepare for the voting places for the coming referendum at Namkhum village. Every five villages have to collect Kyat 30,000 for the clothes, bamboos, papers and the place to build the polling booths. The total costs are about Kyat 150,000.
The media scene in Burma is heavily dominated by the state media. Broadcast media (television and radio) are publicly owned, except for exile media. Private print media exists, but it is operating under highly adverse conditions.
Following the announcement of the referendum, censorship rules have been tightened and the print media have been issued with strict restrictions on how the upcoming referendum should be reported, according to journalists.
The government is relying heavily on the state-owned media for the vote “Yes” campaign while no time is allotted to the vote “No” campaign.
According to local sources in Arakan State, journalists are being recruited to campaign actively in favour of the constitution in this state.
The fact that the referendum is due to take place was announced on February 9, 2008, while the voting date was announced two months later, on April 9, 2008. This has given very little time to the “No”-side to organise a campaign. The government itself is heavily involved in campaigning for a “Yes” vote and there is thus little opportunity for the people of Burma to get access to non-partisan information about the constitution that is being put up for the vote.
The text of the constitution was released at a very late stage to the public. It was not made public at the time of the announcement of the referendum. The draft constitution was completed ten days later, on February 19, 2008 and was released for sale in government bookstores on April 9, 2008. Earlier versions of the draft constitution were leaked between February and April. However, the text of these earlier versions differs from the final version of the draft constitution. Furthermore, no official English version has been released and there are discrepancies between different English informal translations that are available. The constitution has not been made available in any of the ethnic minority languages in Burma.
Copies of the draft constitution, referendum laws and referendum guidelines were distributed to sub-commissions and local authorities across the country in mid-March, according to state media.
No announcement has been made about the size of the state budget allocated to the campaign and the referendum.
According to local sources, local villagers in several townships in Shan State are only told how to vote “Yes”. They are told that if they vote against the constitution, the army will remain in power. In rural areas, notably in Northern and eastern Shan State, the authorities have conducted “mock elections” to tell villagers how to vote.
The authorities are drawing heavily upon public bodies and state resources, including access to public media (television, radio, print media, blog sites). The vote “Yes” campaign was launched officially in state media on April 11, 2008. The authorities are organising pamphlet campaigns, mass gatherings and referendum exhibitions across the country, including in Naypyidaw, Kachin State, Mon State, Mandalay Division and Rangoon Division. High ranking officials from the State Peace and Development Council, from the ministries, from military commands and from the USDA are travelling across the country in a campaign for the “Yes” vote.
Civil servants, local village chiefs in rural areas, other government officials and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association are involved in this campaign for a “yes” vote according to reports from eastern Shan State. They and their family members are also under pressure with an order to vote “Yes”. Civil servants are being told that they will be fired if they vote “No”. The USDA began a recruitment drive in February to increase its numbers.
In addition, artists, film stars and other celebrities are also recruited in a drive for the “Yes” vote.
The military authorities are using a mix of pressure and incentives to urge the population to vote in favour of the constitution. This is happening across the country, including in remote rural areas, including ethnic areas.
For instance, it has been reported that loans or cell phones have been granted by the USDA and the Swan Ashin in order to urge voters to vote yes and that students in Arakan State have been told that they will pass their immatriculation exams (necessary for admission to university) if they join the USDA and vote in favour of the constitution.
No efforts have been made by the military authorities to allocate public resources, ensure access to facilities for printing pamphlets and other information material and provide assistance in distribution of such material to the vote “No” campaign, in order to ensure equal opportunities for campaigning for both sides. Instead, the NLD and other actors campaigning for a “no” vote are intimidated, including with arrests, physical assaults and seizure of print material.
The use of threats, detentions and physical violence has produced an atmosphere of intimidation during the campaigning period. A heavier presence of policy and security guards is being reported in Rangoon and other cities. In ethnic areas, it is being reported that villagers are threatened if they are considering voting “No”.
For instance, according to residents of Namkham Township, local authorities are threatening villagers that they will be able to observe how people vote and that those who vote against the constitution will be detained and interrogated.
According to local sources in Arakan State, the military is pressuring people to vote “Yes”. Officers from the Western Command have been travelling around Manaung and An townships and intimidating people into voting in support of the constitution, according to a resident of Taungup township. According to this source, military officers are conducting meetings regarding the referendum while fully armed and in uniform. They are telling villagers that a group will be set up to take action against those who oppose the referendum. Members of the USDA are also involved in this campaign of intimidation in Arakan State.
According to unconfirmed sources from Shan State Army (SSA) South, the military authorities have distributed leaflets in communities in Shan State telling the public to vote to support the new constitution in Eastern Shan State. If people do not support constitution, they are told that they are supporting opposition groups such as the SSA, National League for Democracy- Liberated Area (NLD-LA), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and Karen National Union (KNU) and that they can be arrested and sentenced for 30 years.
On 15 March, village headmen in Panghsai, opposite China’s Wanding, were summoned by the deputy township immigration and national registration officer Kyaw Thet Han and handed out a mocked ballot paper with a square in it, according to the Shan Herald Agency for News. They were instructed to put a tick in the square and told that anyone caught putting in a cross or any symbols other than a tick would be liable to a three year imprisonment with or without a kyat 100,000 (USD 90) fine (the tick is for the “Yes” vote while the cross is for the “No”).
According to the NLD, the authorities have sought to seize documents from the NLD and to detain and interrogate township organisers. The first case of arrests of individuals for criticism of the upcoming referendum was reported on 3 March, 2008, less than one month after the referendum had been announced. Since then, there have been several cases of detentions of activists who are seeking to conduct a vote “No” campaign. During March 6-25, 2008, about 20 activists were detained. On March 27, 2008, seven activists were detained in Rangoon during a peaceful march protesting against the constitution. On April 6, 2008, one NLD member was detained in Sittwe for distributing leaflets. On April 13, 2008, some youth activists in suburban Rangoon were reprimanded by the authorities and told not to wear the “No”-shirts, according to sources from the NLD. On April 15, 2008, 20 activists were detained for staging a peaceful march against the constitution and wearing T-shirts with a “No” sign. Also arrested was Myo Nyunt, a member of the NLD Youth and a close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi. He was taken from his home near Rangoon.
The incidences of physical assaults against activists by unidentified assailants have also increased. For instance a well-known human rights defender, Myint Aye from the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters group, was attacked on March 28, 2008. There were also three attacks against members of the NLD on March 31st, 2008, April 1st, 2008 and April 4, 2008. On April 10, 2008, three people were attacked in Rangoon.
The authorities have warned foreign embassies in Burma not to take any steps in support of the NLD and other opposition parties.
No measures have been taken by the authority to pro-actively encourage the participation of women in the referendum process.
F. Absentee voting and advance voting
The Referendum Law provides for advance voting for those who will be travelling in Burma on May 10, 2008 and absentee voting for those who are living overseas.
It is being reported that overseas voting has already begun at the Burmese embassies in South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia. For instance, voting at the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur will be organised from April 19 to 27, while voting at the Burmese embassy in Singapore will be organised from April 25 to 29, according to some reports. Voting is thus taking place despite the fact that the voter rolls have not yet been made available for members of the public.
Furthermore, there are reports that advance voting will be requested from military personnel, members of the police force, the USDA, the Fire Brigades and the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association because these members will be requested to report to security duty on May 10, 2008 in connection with the organisation of the referendum itself.
The widespread use of such advance voting, in combination with the reports of widespread intimidation of civil servants, raises serious concerns about the possibility for the Burmese authorities to rig a large number of votes. Indeed, according to some reports, civil servants may be requested to vote at their work place as well, which would further increase the risk of intimidation of this particular group of voters.
In addition, such advance votes are more vulnerable to being rigged by the authorities because they are due to be counted by the Referendum Commission (for overseas votes) and Township Sub-commission (for votes in Burma) without the presence of non-partisan observers.
G. Referendum observers
There are no domestic non-partisan observer organisations in Burma and the Referendum Law makes no provisions for the creation of an independent body to monitor the campaigning process and the vote.
The law calls for the vote counting to take place in front of “not less than ten persons eligible to vote” (art. 22a), but makes no mention where, how or when these will be selected.
Furthermore, the SPDC has so far rejected an offer for UN technical assistance and for international observers.
Finally, due to the repressive political and human rights climate in the country, no active civil society organisations exist that can observe the campaign as well as the vote.
III. Conclusion and recommendations
Burma is a country with severe political repression, which has been censured numerous times for pervasive, systematic and widespread violations of human rights. The period that has elapsed since the referendum was announced has seen no improvements in the overall political human rights situation and very little efforts to ensure equal opportunity for both sides to campaign. The state apparatus is heavily tilted in favour of the “Yes” vote. As a result, there is good reason to question whether the referendum can offer a genuine choice under free and fair conditions for the people of Burma.
Among key pressing concerns are the use of temporary identity cards by the authorities without concomitant measures in the referendum law to prevent multiple voting, the use of advance and absentee voting without concomitant measures to prevent vote rigging, as well as the manner in which the voting will be counted and the result announced publicly.
The United Nations, regional organisations such as the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as individual countries should:
§ Call upon the SPDC to ensure free and fair conditions for campaigning as well as for the vote on Election Day, including with respect to the pressing concerns mentioned above;
§ Call upon the SPDC to accept international observers for the referendum;
§ Monitor closely violations of international standards for a free and fair referendum;
§ Publicly criticise violations of international standards for a free and fair referendum.
9 February 2008: The SPDC announces that a referendum for a new constitution for Burma will be organised in May 2008 and that a new general election will follow in 2010. This announcement corresponds to step three and four in the “road map” for political reforms which was first announced by the SPDC in August 2003.
19 February 2008: The draft constitution is completed by a 54-member Constitution Drafting Commission led by Burma’s Chief Justice Aung Toe. The text is not publicised.
21 February 2008: The Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) begins a low-key membership drive to drum up support for the referendum.
22 February 2008: The NLD calls for the constitutional principles to be made public.
26 February 2008: The SPDC announces that it has enacted a law laying out the procedures for the referendum. A 45-member Referendum Convening Commission is also established to oversee the process.
28 February 2008: The SPDC begins issuing temporary citizenship cards.
3 March 2008: First report of three persons detained for having criticised the referendum.
18 March 2008: The UN calls for a credible referendum and election process.
20 March 2008: Referendum Sub-commissions established.
25 March 2008: Student activists initiate a vote “No” Campaign.
28 March 2008: First report of physical assault against a human rights defender.
28 March 2008: First leak of the text of the draft constitution.
4 April 2008: Censorship restrictions are increased.
4 April 2008: The NLD calls for a “No” vote and issues referendum guidelines.
9 April 2008: The SPDC releases a referendum handbook for referendum officials; copies of the draft constitution go for sale in government bookstores, owned by the Ministry of Information. A copy costs 1,000 kyat (nearly US 1).
10 April 2008: The NLD says the authorities have begun cracking down on the vote “No” campaign and calls for international observers in order to ensure a free and fair vote.
10 April 2008: The SPDC announces the date for the referendum, May 10 2008 and warns foreign embassies not to support the National League for Democracy and other local political parties.
11 April 2008: The SPDC initiates a vote “Yes” campaign and begins organising referendum exhibitions across the country.
14 April 2008: The UN Special Rapporteur for the situation of Human Rights in Burma urges the SPDC to allow more freedom of speech and for the opposition to be able to organise; he also calls for international observers.
15 April 2008: More than 20 activists are detained as they walked through Sittwe, Arakan State, in a peaceful rally against the proposed constitution. Also arrested is Myo Nyunt from the NLD Youth and a close close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi. He is taken from his hom in Rangoon. A few days earlier, some youth activists in suburban Yangon are reprimanded by authorities and warned not to wear T-shirts with a "No".
15April 2008: The NLD says Aung San Suu Kyi is entitled to vote in the referendum because her detention is not a court order or a sentence.
21 April 2008: Advance voting begins at Burmese embassies abroad.
10 May 2008: The referendum due to take place
(NB: These news items are available as an appendix to the report.)
Shan party urges “No” vote for genuine democracy, DVB, April 21, 2008.
- Rangoon salespersons take back 'No' T-shirts fearing reprisal, Mizzima News, April 21, 2008.
- Junta says no democracy without support for draft charter, SHAN, No.17 - 4/2008, 21 April 2008.
- Voters’ worry: Will officials be able to track us down? SHAN, April 20, 2008.
- Myanmar arrests keep pressure on "no" campaign, Reuters, April 20, 2008.
- Voting begins at Burmese Embassies, The Irrawaddy, April 21, 2008.
- Authorities in Kachin state campaign for 'Yes' vote, Mizzima News, April 21, 2008.
- Many voices silenced as Myanmar vote campaign gets under way, AFP, April 20, 2008.
- Burmese Embassy in Singapore Prepares for Absentee Referendum Voting, The Irrawaddy, April 17, 2008.
- Burmese embassy in Singapore to conduct absentee voting, Mizzima News, April 19, 2008.
- Pro-Junta Thugs Continue Attacks on Activists, The Irrawaddy, April 18, 2008.
- NLD member beaten and arrested for “No” placards, DVB, April 18, 2008.
- Analysis: Approval of draft constitution -- junta way, Mizzima News, April 16, 2008
- Suu Kyi can vote in Myanmar charter poll, her party says, AFP, April 15, 2008.
- Myanmar Detains at Least 20 Activists, AP, April 15, 2008
- Myanmar vote needs international observers, says UN investigator, AP, April 14, 2008
- Junta urges people to support constitution, By Mungpi, Mizzima News, April 11, 2008
- Junta Begins ‘Vote Yes’ Campaign, By Wai Moe, The Irrawaddy, April 11, 2008
- REFERENDUM POLL: Shan State Surveyed About Referendum, The Irrawaddy, April 11, 2008
- NLD Wants International Observers at May 10 Referendum, The Irrawaddy, April 10, 2008
- Myanmar crackdown on "no" campaign begins: opposition, Reuters, April 10, 2008
- Irrawaddy Division Surveyed about Referendum, The Irrawaddy, April 10, 2008
- No way for voters in Tachilek to "express his wish secretly", SHAN, 10 April 2008
- Myanmar warns embassies ahead of referendum, AFP, April 10, 2008
- Constitutional referendum date set in Burma, ABC Radio Australia Online, April 10, 2008
- Constitution for Sale, The Irrawaddy, April 9, 2008
- Activists Take “Vote No” Campaign to Countryside, The Irrawaddy, April 9, 2008
- KIO to abstain from referendum - Interview with Major Gun Maw (KIO), Mizzima News, April 9, 2008
- Junta releases handbook for referendum officials, DVB, April 9, 2008
- Detained monks to be given lay identity cards, DVB, April 9, 2008
- COMMENTARY: How Can the Constitutional Referendum be Monitored? The Irrawaddy, April 9, 2008
- Security Tightens Around ‘Vote No’ Campaign, The Irrawaddy, April 8, 2008
- Typo or Trick? Burma's Missing Words Reveal All, Reuters, April 8, 2008
- Villagers ordered to pay for the polling booths, SHAN, 7 April 2008
- Junta banned by Wa, Mongla from issuing ID cards, SHAN, 7 April 2008
- Ethnic Nationalities Council Statement No. 2008-3: ON THE FORTHCOMING SPDC’s REFERENDUM
- People threatened to support the draft constitution, SHAN, 5 April 2008
- Another NLD member beaten up, Mizzima News, April 4, 2008
- NLD member loses sight due to lack of treatment, DVB, March 5, 2008
- NCGUB Sees Rights Violations Increasing, Urges Close Monitoring of Situation, Press Release, April 4, 2008
- More Opposition Activists Attacked by Thugs, The Irrawaddy, April 4, 2008
- NLD banned from visiting prisoners, DVB, April 4, 2008
- NLD targets undecided voters, DVB, April 4, 2008
- NLD issues referendum guidelines, DVB, April 4, 2008
- Censors restrict media reporting on referendum, DVB, April 4, 2008
- Burmese opposition leader attacked, Mizzima News, April 1, 2008
- Burma constitution leaked amid 'No' vote push, The Times (UK), March 31, 2008
- NLD members arrested after demonstration, DVB, March 31, 2008
- Burma military pressures people to vote Yes, DVB, March 31, 2008
- Draft Constitution Surfaces, Stirring More Debate, The Irrawaddy, March 31, 2008
- USDA Holds Referendum “Information” Sessions, The Irrawaddy, March 28, 2008
- Human Rights Activist Attacked in Rangoon, The Irrawaddy, March 28, 2008
- COMMENTARY: “The Road Ahead is going to be Rough”, The Irrawaddy, March 25, 2008
- Student activists initiate vote 'No' campaign, Mizzima News, March 25, 2008
- Join hands in confrontation: Activists, Mizzima News, March 25, 2008
- Forced donations for ID cards, SHAN, 24 March 2008
- Shan rebels sound warning bell for all ceasefire armed groups, Mizzima News, March 25, 2008
- How Will the Burmese Armed Forces Vote in the Referendum? The Irrawaddy, March 24, 2008
- Tick ’em up or else, say referendum organizers, SHAN, March 22, 2008
- KIO abstains from voting for the referendum, BBC Burmese Service, March 22, 2008
- Referendum: “No” Vote Gaining Momentum, The Irrawaddy, March 20, 2008
- Referendum Sub-commissions Formed by Local Authorities, The Irrawaddy, March 20, 2008
- Junta authorities coax, threaten civilians to support charter, SHAN, 19 March 2008
- Credible referendum and election process in Myanmar’s interests, says UN envoy, UN News Centre, March 18, 2008
- ‘Vote Yes’ Junta Tells Civil Servants, The Irrawaddy, March 17, 2008
- Increased clashes precede referendum, SHAN, 17 March 2008
- Increased security presence leads to clashes in Shan state, Mizzima News, March 17, 2008
- Myanmar junta refuses to amend charter barring Suu Kyi from polls/Myanmar accuses UN envoy of ‘bias’, AFP, March 7, 2008
- Three People Arrested for Comments on Referendum, The Irrawaddy, March 3, 2008
- Burmese Migrants Keen to Vote in Referendum, The Irrawaddy, March 3, 2008
- Ceasefire Groups Getting Citizenship Cards, The Irrawaddy, March 3, 2008
- Myanmar Media Outline Referendum Laws, AP, February 27, 2008
- Junta's referendum law lacks independent monitoring, Mizzima News, February 27, 2008
- NLD Dismisses Referendum, The Irrawaddy, February 28, 2008
- National League for Democracy: pecial Announcement 2/02/08, February 28, 2008
- Junta Charges 88 Generation Students, The Irrawaddy, February 27, 2008
- Security tighten prior to referendum, SHAN, February 26, 2008
- USDA rumored to be using bribery for enrolment, Mizzima News, February 26, 2008
- Residents tricked into attending referendum meeting, DVB, February 25, 2008
- Govt Issues Temporary Citizen Cards for Referendum, The Irrawaddy, February 28, 2008
- COMMENTARY: No Way, Than Shwe – by Aung Zaw, The Irrawaddy, February 28, 2008
- Myanmar Enacts Law on Constitution Vote, AP, February 26, 2008
- NLD calls for publication of convention principles, DVB, February 22, 2008
- Outcry for Fair Referendum, Elections, The Irrawaddy, February 22, 2008
- Burma's constitution attacked, Financial Times, February 22, 2008
- Opposition in Burma calls for free referendum, Mizzima News, February 21, 2008
- Burma’s NLD Calls Referendum Plan Undemocratic, AP, February 19, 2008
- USDA Starts Recruitment Drive Ahead of Referendum, The Irrawaddy, February 21, 2008
- Burma Completes Work on Draft Constitution, VOA News, 19 February 2008
- The Devil’s in the Details, The Irrawaddy, February 10, 2008
- Myanmar junta schedules constitutional referendum for 2008, election for 2010, AP, February 9, 2008
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